Roll of Honor
Joe Gaines
Incident
Deputy Marshal Gaines was shot and killed in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, after raiding a gambling hall. The officers received information that a man nearby was drunk and they went to arrest him. The suspect was released after promising to return for a hearing in the morning. However, he went home, continued drinking, and began firing a Winchester rifle in the air.
When Deputy Marshal was notified of the situation he went to arrest the man. When he encountered the man the two exchanged shots and Deputy Marshal Gaines was struck in the chest. The suspect was charged with murder but acquitted after four trials.
Survivors
Deputy Marshal Gaines was survived by his wife of two weeks.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FED-3805FA2D- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
133 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Gaines served with the United States Department of Justice.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy U.S. Marshal Joe Gaines is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In DC, 754 of 1,419 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.1% of this state's fallen. That is 1.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service, 251 of 313 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 80.2% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joe Gaines's cause is highlighted.
How Joe Gaines Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joe Gaines is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Others Who Wore This Badge
312 officers from United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
